Abstract
Kondratieff et al. (2005) proposed a new genus of mydas fly, Hessemydas from Madagascar and included two new species, H. parkeri Kondratieff, Carr and Irwin and H. tulear Kondratieff, Carr and Irwin. Additionally, the previously described Leptomydas seyrigi Séguy, the only mydas fly previously known from the island was placed in Hessemydas. Séguy (1960) originally described this species from a single male collected at Behara. Kondratieff et al. (2005) indicated that despite numerous inquires to the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France, the holotype of L. seyrigi was unavailable for examination. However, recently, through the courtesy of Christophe Daugeron, the holotype was located and made available for examination. Unfortunately, H. tulear was determined to be a junior subjective synonym of H. seyrigi. Also recently, Norman D. Penny, California Academy of Sciences made additional specimens of mydas flies available from Madagascar for determination. Among this material, a new species of Hessemydas was discovered and is described below.
References
Bowden, J. (1980) 27. Family Mydidae. In: Crosskey, R. W. (Ed.), Catalogue of the Diptera of the Afrotropical Region. British Museum (Natural History), London, pp. 325–333.
Kondratieff, B.C., Carr, R.J. & Irwin, M.E. (2005) Two new genera and four new species of Mydidae (Diptera) from Madagascar. Zootaxa, 978, 1–14.
Séguy, E. (1960) Un nouveau au Leptomydas de Madagascar (Insecta Diptera: Mydaidae). Bulletin du Muséum D’Histoire Naturelle 2 Serie, 32, 154–156.